Twisting spindle balloon control



July 6, 1965 A. w. VIBBER TWISTING SPINDLE BALLOON CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27. 1960 I r mun": nun IHIIIIII I I IIIIIII unwm INVENTOR y 1965 A. w. VIBBER 3,192,698

TWISTING SPINDLE BALLOON CONTROL Filed Jan. 27, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 554 I! i I I l s INVENTOR zg W July 6, 1965 A. w. VIBBER TWIS'I'ING SPINDLE BALLOON CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 27, 1960 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,192,698 TVISTING SPINDLE BALLOON CONTRGL Alfred W. Vibber, West Englewood, Teaneck, NJ. (560 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y.) Filed Jan. 27, 1960, Ser. N 0. 4,973 50 Claims. (Cl. 57-58.83)

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.72l4,866, filed March 10, 1951; of application Ser. No. 223,189, filed April 27, 1951; of application Ser. No. 261,704, filed December 14, 1951,,al1 of which are now abandoned, all bearing the same title; and of application Ser. No. 4,040, filed January 22, 1960, now Patent No. 2,989,837.

This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for continuously measuring the diameter of a flying loop or balloon of elongated flexible material such as yarn, as in a yarn twisting spindle, and also to a method of and apparatus for automatically and continuously controlling the diameter of a balloon into which the flexible material passes under variable tension.

In the illustrative embodiment, the balloon control device of the invention is depicted as used in apparatus in which the tension produced in a balloon at the take-up wisting spindle is balanced against the one or more balloons of the one or more supply spindles. In the present invention there is employed a self-adjusting eye at the center cabling spindle, the balloon of which is to be controlled. In the preferred illustrative embodiment, the eyeadjusting mechanism is powered by frictional contact with the elongated flexible material passing therethrough, the eye being caused to descend when the balloon expands unduly in diameter, and to rise when the balloon contracts unduly in diameter, whereby the balloon seeks the condition wherein its diameter is the predetermined optimum diameter termed the medial diameter,. in which condi tion the tension in such balloon is the balance with the tension in the material entering such balloon.

The control of the balloon of infeeding spindles,.wherein the strand leaves the balloon and travels radially inwardly of the balloon-generating flyer, has been particularly difficult. The balloon-controlling mechanism of the present invention, although obviously not limited to infeeding spindles, displays some of its greatest advantages when employed to control the balloons of infeeding spindles.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification.

In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of a three-spindle yarn twisting and doubling apparatus, the apparatus varying the tension in the take-up balloon by variation of the vertical position of the guiding eye above such balloon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, partially in side elevation and partially in horizontal cross-section, through the active arm of the flyer of the apparatus of FIG. 1, the section being taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the eye-adjusting apparatus employed at the cabling spindle in FIG. 1, such eye-adjusting apparatus measuring the diameter of the cabling balloon as a function of the expansive force exerted by the balloon on the eye at one end of such balloon, such measurement being employed automatically to vary the tension in the cabling balloon 'by altering the height of such balloon;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view in plan of the eye-adjusting apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic View of the gearing between the eye and the worms of the eye-adjusting apparatus of FIGS.

3,192,698 Patented July 6, 1965 ice 3 and 4, the gearing being shown as seen from below in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical axial section through the eye of the center cabling spindle, such eye having a bore therethrough of a first preferred configuration;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of a second preferred eye for use with the center cabling spindle;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the apparatus, the view being similar to FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in plan of a further embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged viewin side elevation of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

The embodiment of the general combination of the apparatus, to which the mechanism of the invention is applied, shown in FIG. 1, is generally of the type shown and described in the patent to Uhlig, No. 2,487,837, issued November 15, 1949. In the embodiment shown, such apparatus consists of three spindles, spindles 2' and 4' being of the two-for-one singles supply type, the yarn being delivered therefrom in balloons46' and 54, respectively, through guiding eyes 43' and 56, respectively, to combining, or doubling, and twisting mechanism, generally designated by the reference character 6'. Spindle 6' is likewise of the two-for-one twisting type, the combined threads receiving a first twist in their passage down through the incoming balloon 84' and a second twist in their upward travel vertically axially through the center driving shaft of the spindle. Upon emerging from the top of such center hollow shaft, the cord is engaged by the positively driven capstan 196 driven in synchronism with such shaft so as to supply the power to withdraw the cord from the balloon 84' to overcome the retarding tension of the balloon 84 and to withdraw the singles from their balloons 46 and 54. After leaving the capstan 196, the cord is wound upon the bobbin 126', being laid thereon by the reciprocating traverse mechanism 146' having the guiding pulley 144'.

It is with the control of the diameter of the balloon 84 of the system shown in FIG. 1 with which the present invention is concerned. Experience has shown that there is little, if any, difficulty in the over-all control of the singles balloons when proper adjustment is made of the retarding means 488 at the top of each singles spindle, and of the diameter of the flyer and the height which its eye lies above the spindle. Difiiculty has been experienced, however, with control of the take-up balloon 84', wherein it the balloon is too tight it rubs upon the upper rub-ring 102 to the consequent damage of the cord, and, if such balloon is too loose, it rubs upon the outer guard member if one is used, also to the damage of the cord. The balloon control apparatus of the present invention is designed to hold the diameter of the take-up balloon within close limits, so that such balloon neither contacts the inner wear ring or inner guard nor contacts the outer guard or housing member of the spindle 6, in spite of variations in the back tension upon the material entering the take-up balloon.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 generally includes means for adjusting the height of the singles balloons rela tive to the medial height of the take-up balloon, so that the mean tensions in the singles balloon balance the mean tension in the take-up balloon, no additional balancing or compensating tension being necessary between the singles and take-up balloons if the diameter of the take-up balloon remains substantially at its medial value.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 includes means to compensate for variations in the diameter of the take-up balloon, and to restore such balloon to its medial value, by measuring or detecting variations in the diameter of the take-up balloon by apparatus of the invention to be described, and by varying the tension in the material forming such balloon of the take-up spindle by automatically varying the height of the take-up balloon in accordance with such measurements of variations of the balloon diameter, thereby to restore such take-up balloon to a condition wherein its diameter approximates the medial diameter and wherein the tension which it exerts upon the material in it substantially equals the instantaneous back tension exerted upon it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the height, h, which singles guiding eyes 48 and 56' lie above the bottom of their corresponding balloons, somewhat exceeds the height, H, which guiding eye 534 of the take-up spindle 6' lies above the bottom of its respective balloon. The singles guiding eyes are adjustable vertically in their mounting on frame part 422 by means of the vertical guideway 424 mounted on such frame part, the slide 426 from which the eye-holding arm 425 protrudes, such slide fitting within guideway 424,

and the vertical screw 428. Screw 428 is journalled in the horizontal support 430 and is threadedly engaged with the horizontal projecting member 429 on the top of slide 426. allow the substantial adjustment of eye 48 toward or away from the spindle 2. Identical structure is employed for vertically adjusting the guiding eye 56 for spindle 4.

With certain specified twists of the material, and with certain weights of such material, it is possible, by suitable vertical adjustment of guiding eyes 48' and 56' and of the radius of the fiyers, to balance the combined means tensions of balloons 46 and 54' against the tension in take-up balloon 8 when such take-up balloon has its desired medial diameter. In the embodiment of the system shown gathering pulley 294' is, therefore, an idle pulley, imposing no retarding tension on the material passing thereover. The apparatus of FIG. 1 incorporates means whereby the vertical position of take-up spindle guiding eye 534 may be automatically adjusted, in response to variations in the diameter of balloon 84', so that the tension of the material in such balloon is varied to restore such balloon to its medial diameter while varying its contour to cause it to exert on the material in it a tension substantially equalling the instantaneous back tension.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 is adjusted so that the balloons 46, 54, and 84, are in balance as to tension when the takeup balloon 84' is of a medial diameter. Under such conditions, the eye 534 is subjected to the upward thrust of the upper end of balloon 84, the downward thrust caused by frictional engagement between it and the downwardly travelling cord passing therethrough, and the torque imposed upon it by reason of the whipping of the upper end of the balloon 84, the cord being of smaller diameter than the bore through the eye and passing into it from a point, the periphery of gathering pulley 204', spaced from the eye and lying substantially on the axis of the bore thereof, such whipping of the balloon tending to cause the eye to rotate in such direction as to follow the balloon. It is this torque effect upon the eye which is employed in the eye-adjusting mechanism of the present invention, to allow or cause the necessary minor compensation in size and contour and thus in tension of the take-up balloon to maintain it under control. minor adjustments in the take-up balloon may be effected without requiring other adjustments of pre-set tension,

as in the singles or elsewhere in the system. In other.

words, the slight variations in tension arising from adjustment of take-up balloon size to maintain it under control will not upset the overall general balance existing in the system.

As is well known, the tension exerted by balloons 46' and 54 depends, in each instance, upon the height of each such balloon, the weight of the material in the balloon, upon the speed with which such balloon travels about its axis, and upon the diameter of the balloon. In order to allow wider variations in these factors than would be permissible by the use of the vertically adjustable eyes 4s and 56 alone, spindles 2 and 4 are preferably provided It will be apparent that turning of screw 428 will It has been found that such with the novel flyer and tension arrangement shown diagrammatically in FIG. "1 and more specifically in FIG. 2.

It is usually necessary, in the described embodiment of the system, to provide in spindles 2' and 4' a tension means additional to the adjustable magnetic ball tensions 488 shown at the top of the spindles, both because such magnetic ball tension devices are limited as to the total force which they can impose upon the yarn, and also because the yarn, when engaged by such means, is in fiat untwisted condition and therefore lacks the requisite strength as a whole to be engaged by a single tension-imposing means contributing the total back tension eifect required by the singles balloons. The material receives a first twist in the zone of travel C, thereupon entering the twisting guide 490 at the top of the spindle. After thus being first twisted, the material is stronger as a whole and may receive a second, larger, back tension, before it enters the singles balloon. In the. embodiment shown, such additional tension is effected by means of the tension means 500 mounted on the arm 496 of the double-armed flyer designated generally 494. The other, balancing, arm of the flyer is designated 498, there being mounted on the outer end of such arm a non-operative, balancing means 562, so that the flyer is in dynamic balance.

As shown in FIG. 2, there is screwed into the internally threaded arm 496 of the flyer the left-hand end 504 of the adjustable sleeve 552. Such sleeve is firmly held in arm 4% by means of the two lock nuts 506 and 508. On the outer end of sleeve 502 there is threaded the tension device 560, the externally threaded end 510 of the sleeve being received in a threaded recess in means 500. The parts 510 and 509 are firmly held together by means of the lock nuts 512 and 514. To facilitate mounting and dismounting of the tension device and the sleeve on the arm, the threads 510 and 594, respectively, may be made right and left hand threads, the sleeve being conveniently turned by means of the hexagonal-shaped unthreaded portion 516. The tension device 500 incorporates therewithin the helical thread-guiding tube 518, the tube having a sufiicient number of helices therein, and the helices being of such pitch and length of travel, that tension device 500 under operating conditions imparts to the single twisted thread 492 entering it and passing through it into the balloon 54' a tension which, in addition to the tension imposed by the primary tension means 488, equals the back tension necessary to balance the balloon 54'. The thread 492 travelling through the tube 518 is, of course, subjected to bending in travelling through the helices of the tube, and is also subjected to centrifugal force which throws it strongly into engagement with the wall of the tube at the left in FIG. 2. The particular configuration of the tube 518 required for any twisting operation can readily be arrived at, and it is convenient to provide a series of tension means 500 having tension-imposing effects in steps of, say, fifty grams. The gaps betwen such tension devices may therefore be readily filled by adjustment of the ball tension means 488.

The structure of the self-adjusting eye of the present mvention is more fully shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The material 128' being twisted enters balloon 84 through eye 534. Such eye is rotatably mounted on platform 536, and is in the form of a hollow spindle or shaft. The amount of torque exerted on eye 534 varies as the diameter of the balloon 84', since material 128 frictionally engages the bore 535 therethrough, being pressed into engagement with such bore by the centrifugal force acting on the balloon at the upper end of such balloon. Such centrifugal force, in turn, depends upon the diameter of the balloon. Eye 534 carries on its bottom end the gear 537, gear 537 meshing with planet gears 538, which are connected together by upper and lower ring members 539 and 539' .(FIGS. 3 and 5). Planet gears 538 mesh with an internal or ring gear 544) which is nonrotatably mounted in platform 536 by radial arms 541 (FIG. 5). The upper ring gear 539, which is of greater diameter than the lower ring gear 539, has its outer periphery in the form of a gear 540' which meshes with gears 544 thus to drive gears 546 and through them the worm-driving gears 542. Vertical parallel worms 548, journalled in the machine frame as shown, pass snugly but freely through the bores in gears 542, the gears being keyed to the worms by keys 550 on the gear hubs. The worms are threadedly received in nuts 552 integral with the main body of platform 536. The gears connecting the eye to the worms, and the worms themselves, constitute a speed-reducing means of high ratio between the eye and the eye-adjusting means.

Thus rotation of eye 534 caused by engagement of the upper end of the balloon 84' with the bore 535 in the eye will tend to turn the worms 548, causing platform 536 and eye 534 to travel vertically. The worms 548 are chosen of such hand that eye 534 when contacted by material 128' in the balloon tends to drive the platform 536 downwardly. Rotation of worms 548 in the direction to carry platform 536 doumwardly is resisted by a spring torque motor 554, which may be wound to varying degrees of tightness by key 556. Motor 554- is geared to worms 548 by means of gear 553 on the motor, such gear meshing with gears 560 keyed to the upper parts of the worms 548.

The torque motor 554 is preferably, although not necessarily, of such type that, through the range of rotation of gear 558 in the operation required, the torque exerted on such gear 558 by the torque motor will remain substantially constant. The motor 554 may, however, deliver a torque which drops somewhat, over the working range, as it unwinds. Such motor will also work satisfactorily in the disclosed combination. It will be apparent that, when the balloon 84- is at its medial diameter and when spring torque motor 554, if it is of the indicated preferred type, is Wound to a predetermined degree to give such substantially contant torque at gear 558 over the operating range, the platform 536 will seek a predetermined level at which the torque imposed upon worms 548 by the eye 534 balances the opposite torque imposed upon the worms by the torque motor 554. When such point of balance is reached, the material 128' at the top of balloon 84 will slip around in contact with the bore 535 of eye 534, such eye remaining substantially non-rotating. Should the balloon 84' expand substantially in diameter, the friction between material 128 and bore 535 of eye 534 will increase. Thus the eye will then rotate in such direction as to tend to follow the direction of rotation of the balloon, and worms 548 will be rotated to lower platform 536 to a point where the torque imposed upon the eye, and thus upon the worms 543, balances the torque upon such worms exerted by the torque motor 554. The reverse action takes place when the balloon 84' contracts substantially in diameter.

It has been found that within the ranges of balloon sizes, including balloon diameter, employed at the doubles spindle, tension in the material above the eye of the balloon decreases as balloon diameter increases, with balloon height and other factors constant, and that under such conditions tension in the material above the eye of the balloon increases as balloon diameter decreases. It has also been found that the raising of the eye increases tension in the balloon proper and that the lowering of the eye decreases such tension. Change in the distance between the eye and the fiyer changes the contour of the balloon, the diameter of the balloon decreasing as the height of the eye is decreased, and vice versa.

The apparatus of FIGS. 1-8, inclusive, is designed to hold the diameter of the doubles balloon within predetermined permissible limits and to change, within such limits, the doubles balloon contour, including balloon diameter, so that such doubles balloon exerts a tension on the material travelling therethrough which substantially instantaneously substantially balances the sum of the tensions in the singles strands approaching the doubles twister.

When the sum of the singles strand tensions, which constitutes a back tension on the doubles balloon, decreases from the described mean value, the doubles balloon expands in diameter, the doubles balloon eye momentarily being at its mean height. The described doubles eyeadjusting mechanism then comes into play to lower such eye. The eye-lowering action continues until the torque on the doubles eye exerted by the spring motor balances the torque exerted thereon by the balloon. The doubles balloon then has a height less than the mean height and a diameter approximating the mean value or medial diameter, the tension above the eye of such altered balloon balancing the lessened back tension thereon.

When the sum of the singles strand tensions, that is, the back tension on the doubles balloon, increases, as from the described mean value, the doubles balloon decreases in diameter, the doubles balloon eye momentarily being at its mean height. The doubles eye-adjusting mechanism then comes into play to raise such eye. The

eye-raising action continues until the torque on the doubles eye exerted by the balloon balances the torque exerted thereon by the spring motor. The doubles balloon then has a height greater than the mean height and a diameter approximating the mean value or medial diameter, the tension above the eye of such altered balloon balancing the increased back tension thereon. The rub ring 102' and the guard at the doubles spindle are made of such dimensions and are so placed relative to each other that such variation of doubles balloon diameter and height may take place Without there occurring contact between the material of the doubles balloon and either of such parts.

Thus the eye-adjusting device is stable in operation, and tends constantly to maintain eye 534 at the height at which the tension of the material above the eye of balloon 84 balances the sum of the tensions above the eyes of the singles strands. Because of the high ratio of speed reduction between the eye and the eye-adjusting means, even minute differences in torque between those elfective on the eye, caused by the torque motor and the frictional contact between the cord 12% and the eye Will be reflected in rotation of eye 534 and thus its adjustment relative to the spindle flyer.

It will be apparent that in its control of balloon 84' the disclosed mechanism varies the speeds of passage of the material into and out of the balloon relative to each other. The balloon is that portion of the material 128' extending from the most constricted zone of the apex guiding eye to the radially outer portion of the flyer. The

material 128' is taken up at a constant speed from the The rising and falling of.

balloon by the capstan 1%. the apex guide, in response to changes in the torque exerted upon it by the ballooning material, causes the height of the balloon to vary and also causes the speed at which the material passes into the ballon to vary; this, taken with the constant speed of take up of the material from the balloon, causes the speeds of passage of the material into and out of the balloon to vary relative to each other.

In some instances it is desirable, where great sensitivity of the balloon control isrequired, drivingly to connect the spring torque motor directly to the eye, or to the gear train intermediate the eye and eye-adjusting worms, rather than to the worms in the manner shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 and described above. Such alternative embodiment of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 8, wherein parts similar to those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference characters. In FIG. 8 the spring torque motor 554' is mounted on top of platform 536 to move therewith, motor 554 being connectedto eye 534 through the medium of gear 600 on the periphery. of the eye at the top thereof and gear 6% on the motor shaft meshing therewith. In this. instance the torque motor 554'can be with respect to the vertical dimension of the eye.

7 much smaller than motor 554, since it is required to deliver a much smaller torque opposing rotation of the eye in the direction of rotation of the balloon, since such motor acts directly upon eye 534'.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there are shown two possible different configurations of the bore 535 and 535, respectively, of the eyes 534 and 534, respectively, the bore in FIG. 6 being that shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 6 the bore 535 isof such configuration that its vertical axial elements are each a part of a circle, such arc ofthe circle being symmetrical In FIG. 6 the cord 128' is shown in the relation which it has with respect to the bore 535 of the eye when the balloon 84 is of the desired medial diameter. Under such con ditions the entering cord has its first contact with the bore at a level lying approximately at F. The annular zone or portion of the bore 535 in eye 534 at P, where the bore 'is most constricted, constitutes a central guide for the apex of the ballooning or outwardly bulging cord or yarn. Contact between the cord and the bore of the eye continues down to the level M. The part of the eye 534 below the central guide or most constricted portion thereof constitutes an annular member rotatably supported near the apex of the ballooning yarn in concentric relation therewith. Bulging of the cord or yarn begins immediately below the level F of the bore 535. Thus such annular member as defined in the preceding sentence has a portion thereof positioned to be brushed against by an intermediate portion of the ballooning yarn. It will be apparent that, should the balloon expand, a greater length of contact between the cord 128' and the bore of the eye will exist, such contact continuing for some distance below the level M. The bore 535 increases in diameter or flares from the level of line F, the zone of greatest constriction, down to the bottom end thereof. The twisting moment applied to the eye 534 by contact of small increments of length of material 128' continually increases as such increments frictionally contact the bore further below line F, because of the increasing average lever arm through which such frictional force operates. Under such conditions there will, as above set forth, be an increased torque between the upper end of the balloon and the eye. Should the balloon contract substantially, contact between the cord 128' and the bore of the eye will decrease, the bottom end of such contact then lying above the level M.

The configuration of the bore 535 shown in FIG. 7 is such as to afiord a much longer length of contact between the cord entering the balloon and the bore of the eye than in the eye of FIG. 6. In this instance, the cord 128' will contact the bore initially at the entering edge 0, such contact continuing, when the balloon is at its medial diameter, down to the level M. When the balloon increases in size, contact will be increased from the point down to, say, the level C, or it may even increase down to the level D, should the balloon increase markedly in diameter. The converse will take place should the balloon contract, a slight contraction of the balloon caus ing the area of contact between the cord and the bore to shorten, for example, to the'path O-A. A still further contraction of the balloonwill shorten such path to the length of the line O-B. The bore 535 of eye S34 increases in diameter from the line B to the lower end of such bore, as shown in FIG. 7. Consequently, changes in torque exerted on the eye by changes in the length of contact of material 128 and the bore 535' in the zone below line B are also caused in part by the resulting changes in the average effective lever arm through which the frictional force betweenthe material and the bore 8 ported near the apex of the ballooning yarn in concentric relation therewith. The annular inner surface B-D, and below, of the bore 535' constitutes a portion of the defined annular member which is positioned to be brushed against by an intermediate portion of the ballooning yarn.

It will be obvious that the total changes in torque exerted on the eye by the upper end of the balloon upon changes in diameter of the balloon are caused (1) by the change in total pressure on the bore of the eyeby change in the centirifugal force with which it is thrown against the bore and (2) by the described change in length of frictional contact between the cord and the bore of the eye occurring by reason of the described configuration of the bore of the eye relative to the configuration of the upper end of the balloon. As the balloon increases in size, the centrifugal force on the material at the eye increases and the length of the material in such balloon in contact with the wall of the bore of the eye increases, progressive increase in length of contacts between the material and the bore, by reason of the configuration of the bore producing an increased total effective length of lever arm through which the frictional force operates. Conversely, when the balloon decreases in diameter, the centrifugal force on the material at the eye decreases and the length of the material in contact with the bore of the eye will decrease.

It will be apparent from the above that the instantaneous torque exerted by the balloon 84' upon the eye 534 bears a known, empirical relationship to the diameter of the balloon. This follows because with all other factors constant, balloon diameter and balloon tension have a fixed empirical relationship to each other. Consequently the self-adjusting eye of the invention carries out a method wherein the diameter of the balloon is measured as a function of such torque, the torque in turn automatically adjusting the position of the eye vertically with respect to the spindle fiyer which creates and maintains the balloon in question, so that such balloon is auto: matically brought to, or returned to, the contour and size wherein the tension of the material in such balloon balances the sum of the tensions in the singles strands.

Although the twisting spindle balloon control mechanism of the invention has been described in connection with a three-spindle system wherein the sum of the tensions in the singles balloons generally balances the tension in the cabling and twisting spindle without the interposition of a retarded gathering pulley or other, tension-imposing means between the singles and doubles balloons, it will be apparent, as indicated in application Serial No. 214,866 that such control mechanism may be employed in various other systems. Thus, for example, the control mechanism may be used as an additive device in the system of Uhlig Patent No. 2,487,837 to control the balloon of the spindle 6'. Furthermore, although the balloon control mechanism has been shown and described as controlling a down-twisting cabling and reeling spindle balloon, it is obvious that such mechanism may be used in other types of spindles, as for example, an up-twister working on either single or multiple ends wound on its supply package. Also, the mechanism can obviously be used with any spindle-delivering or receiving elongated flexible material to, or from, respectively, a balloon through an eye forming the other terminus of such balloon, whether the spindle be of the single-twist, two-for-one, or other multiple-twist type.

In FIG. 9 there is shown an apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for continuously measuring the torque exerted on the guiding eye at the free end of a balloon spaced from the flyer, and, by calibration, continuously measuring the diameter of the balloon.

, The rotatable eye 626, which preferably has an inner configuration similar to that shown in either FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, is in this instance mounted by means of ball bearing 623 in the platform 639, such platform being fixedly supported on parts of the machine frame at the optimum distance above the flyer (not shown) to which the material 530 is fed. The eye 626 carries on its upper outer surface the gear 632 which meshes, as shown, with gear 634 mounted on top of platform 630. Gear 634 meshes, in turn, with pinion 636, mounted on shaft 638 projecting from the bottom of spring torque motor 640, which is mounted on the platform in the same manner as motor 554' in FIG. 8.

On its upper end, above the top of the casing of motor 640, the shaft 638 carries the pointer 642 afilxed thereto, such pointer cooperating with the two scales 644 and 646, on disc 648 which may be rotatably mounted on top of the torque motor coaxial with shaft 638, the disc being selectively locked in a desiredangular position by the washer 650 and stud 652, the edge of the washer overlapping the edge of the disc. The motor 640 may be wound to deliver the desired torque'to eye 626 by the key 654, one end of the key having a pointer 656 aflixed thereto, such pointer cooperating with the scale 658. Such scale is selectively locked in selected angular position by a washer and stud similar to those described at 650 and 652.

The motor 640 is of such construction as to deliver to eye 626 a torque which is clockwise in direction, opposing the torque imposed on the eye by the material at the top of the balloon within the eye, such balloon, in this instance, rotating counterclockwise, as indicated by the curved arrow. It will be apparent that variations in the torque imposed on eye 626 by material 530 will cause the eye to rotate until a balance between the torque imposed thereon by the balloon balances that imposed thereon by motor 649, at which condition the eye will cease to rotate, the material 536 slipping along the surface of the passage therethrough. Such rotation of the eye under operating conditions may readily be read on scales 644 and 646, when the scales are suitably calibrated, directly in terms of torque imposed on the eye by the balloon on one such scale, as 644, and directly in terms of balloon diameter, on scale 646, when the flyer speed, the height of the eye above the flyer, the configuration of the passage through the eye, and the character of the material 530 are constant, and when the amount to which the spring of motor 640 is wound up from a dead or completely unwound condition is known. Alternatively, under such conditions scale 646 may be calibrated to read directly in terms of balloon tension. The adjustable angular mounting of disc 648 allows the scfles 644 and 646 to be suitably zeroized before a reading is taken, if desired.

Also to aid in the taking of readings, there is provided a pawl 660 tightly pivotally mounted at 661 on top of platform 6.30, the end 662 of the pawl being selectively moved into engagement with gear 632 to lock the eye from rotation, or moved away from the gear to allow the eye to rotate, by handle 664. Thus, with the twister at rest the eye may be initially locked from rotation by the pawl, and spring motor 649 wound to give sufiicient torque to balance the eye when the balloon is at its medial diameter. The twisting machine may then be placed in operation, the eye 626 being unlocked when the machine has reached steady operating conditions, after which the scales 644 and 646 may be read to give instantaneous torque and balloon diameter measurements, respectively, or, as above set out, scale 646 may be read to give a direct reading of the balloon tension, when it is so calibrated.

Although the apparatus and method of the invention have been described above as measuring the diameter and/ or tension of the balloon of the twisting spindle, and as controlling the balloon diameter and/or tension in accordance with such measurement, it will be apparent that height of the guiding eye above the spindle, a given flyer and yarn passage configuration therein, when a given elongated flexible material of substantially uniform properties longitudinally thereof is twisted in the spindle, the balloon diameter and the length of the material in the balloon bear a determinable, fixed relationship to each other. a given material and with the various spindle component factors constant, by taking ultra-high speed pictures of the spindle in operation, a succession of pictures being taken at a succession of balloon diametersdiffering from each other by small increments. The length of the material in the balloon corresponding to each balloon size may then readily be measured from the pictures, and a graph of such values made up. Further, scale 646 on disc 648 (FIG. 9) may be calibrated, if desired, to read directly in terms of the length of the material in the balloon, instead of balloon diameter. As an alternative, the scales on disc 648 may be calibrated to give simultaneous readings of balloon diameter and length of material in the balloon, as well as a reading of the torque imposed on the eye by the balloon.

It will be seen that the central spindle 6 of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-8, inclusive, is of the downtwister or infeeding type, that is, the strand first enters the balloon through an apex guiding eye, and the strand leaves the balloon by way of the balloon-generating flyer along which it travels generally radially inwardly toward the axis of the balloon. It will also be seen that in such spindle the balloon is held tight, that is, the only resiliently or yieldably held run of the strand between and including the pulley 204 outwardly of the apex guide for guiding the strand into the balloon and the means 196 for feeding the strand out of the balloon is the balloon itself.

The strand 128' in'the balloon is held under yielding tension by the centrifugal force to which it is subjected. The constant speed means 196 for feeding the strand out of the balloon is unyieldingly located at'a fixed distance from the exit or take-up end of the balloon. As a result of such construction, there are no variables imposed directly upon the run of the material in that portion from guide means 204' to take-up means 196' other than the balloon itself.

The means for detecting changes in the diameter of the balloon of spindle 6' detects a force generated by the balloon by interaction with the strand in the run thereof from and including the zone of the strand running over guide pulley 204 and the zone of the strand a take-up feeding means 196'. Such interaction with the strand in the disclosed embodiment is that of frictional engagement between the strand and a rotatable friction surface disposed between and including. the ends. of the balloon, the torque between the strand and the friction surface serving as a measure of the force generated by the balloon, and thus also serving as a measure of the diameter of the balloon.

The interaction between the strand and the balloonmeasuring device of the ilustrative embodiment is such that the measuring of instantaneous balloon diameter, and changes in balloon diameter, does not of itself alter the diameter of the balloon or introduce any variables into the system. This is not true of those prior art devices wherein a spring held salient loop of the strand was maintained either in advance of the balloon or at the exit end of the balloon, and variations in the length of the loop were employed to control the variable speed strand feeding means located nearer the spring held salient loop. In both of such prior devices the very acts of determining the diameter of the balloon and of using the response of the spring held loop to control the variable speed feeding means required a change in the length of such loop and thus a change in the diameter of the balloon. Thus such prior devices were incapable of measuring the diameter of the balloon per se, and were Such relationship may readily be determined, with- 1 3. unable accurately to maintain the diameter of the balloon within predetermined limits.

In the balloon-controlling device of the disclosed embodiment, the friction surface is the bore of eye 535 (FIG. 6) or of eye 535 (FIG. 7) positioned at the entrance end of the balloon 84. The torque on the bore of the eye, including that on the flared lower end of such bore, governs the height of the balloon and thus the tension of the material therein, as above explained. The means 196 for feeding the strand 128' out of balloon 84 is located a fixed distance from the flyer, as is also true of the guide means 204 for guiding the strand 128 into the balloon. The only factor, therefore, which significantly affects the length of the material between the entering guiding means 204' and the feeding means 196' at the exit end of the balloon is the size of the balloon itself.

Whereas, for purposes of illustration I have shown and described preferred embodiments of the method of and apparatus for controlling the diameter of a balloon of a twisting spindle, specifically the take-up spindle of a threespindle cord twisting machine, and have also shown and described a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus for measuring the diameter of a balloon of a twisting spindle, it is to be understood that such embodiments are illustrative only, and that the invention is capable of considerable variation as to details. The invention is, therefore, to be defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mechanism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a balloon and for pulling the yarn forward, a central guide at the apex of the ballooning yarn, mechanism for controlling the size of the balloon comprising an annular member rotatably supported near said apex in concentric relation therewith and adapted to be turned in one direction by the revolving balloon, means for yieldingly turning said member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the balloon.

2. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mechanism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a balloon and for pulling the yarn forward, a central guide at the apex of the ballooning yarn, mechanism for controlling the size of the balloon comprising an annular member rotatably supported near said apex in concentric relation therewith, said annular member having a portion thereof positioned to be brushed against by an intermediate portion of the ballooning yarn, means for yieldingly turning said member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the balloon.

3. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mechanism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a balloon and for pulling the yarn forward, a central guide at the apex of the ballooning yarn, mechanism for controlling the size of the balloon comprising an annular'member rotatably supported near said apex in concentric relation therewith, said annular member having a portion thereof adapted to be brushed against by an intermediate portion of the ballooning yarn, a spring for yieldingly turning said member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the balloon.

4. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mechanism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a balloon and for pulling the yarn forward, a central guide at the apex of the ballooning yarn, mechanism for controlling the size of the balloon comprising a hollow rotatable spindle carrying said central guide at its lower end, an annular member fixed to said rotatable spindle near said apex in concentric relation therewith having a portion thereof adapted to be brushed against by an intermediate portion of the ballooning yarn, means for yieldingly turning said rotatable hollow spindle in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the balloon.

5. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mechanism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a loop and for pulling the yarn forward, mechanism for controlling the size of the loop comprising a member adapted to be turned in one direction by the revolving loop, means for yieldingly turning said member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the loop.

6. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mechanism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a balloon and for pulling the yarn forward, mechanism for controlling the size of the balloon comprising a member adapted to be turned in one direction by the revolving balloon, means for yieldingly turning said member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the retation of said member for controlling the size of the balloon.

7. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mech; anism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a balloon and for pulling the yarn forward, mechanism for controlling the size of the balloon comprising a circular member adapted to be frictionally engaged by, and thereby turned in the same direction of rotation as, the balloon, means for yieldingly turning said member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the balloon.

8. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material held under tension in a zone in which it forms a rotating bulging loop, comprising loop-contacting means for detecting changes in the size of the loop, and means responsive to the loop-contacting means for varying the tension of the material in the loop.

9. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material advancing under tension through a zone in which it forms a rotating bulging loop, comprising loopcontactin g means for detecting changes in the size of the loop, and means responsive to the loop-contacting means for varying the tension of the material in the loop.

19. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material advancing under tension through a zone in which it forms a rotating bulging loop, comprising a rotatable loopcontacting member adapted to be turned in the direction of rotation of the loop by contact therewith for detecting changes in the size of the loop, and means responsive to the rotation of the loop-contacting member for varying the tension of the material in the loop.

11. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material advancing under tension through a zone in which it forms a rotating bulging loop, comprising a circular loopcontacting member rotatable on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the loop and adapted to be turned in the direction of rotation of the loop by contact therewith for detecting changes in the size of the loop, and means responsive to rotation of the circular member for varying the size of the loop.

12. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material advancing under tension through a zone in which it forms a rotating loop, comprising a circular loop-contacting member rotatable on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the loop and adapted to be turned in the direction of rotation of the loop by contact therewith for detecting changes in the size of the loop, means for yieldingly turning said circular member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by rotation of the circular member for controlling the size of the loop.

13. In strand-twisting apparatus, in combination, mechanism for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a balloon and for pulling the yarn forward, mechanism for controlling the size of the balloon comprising a rotatable ,hollow spindle, an annular member fixed to said rotatable spindle in concentric relative therewith having a portion thereof adapted to be brushed against by an intermediate portion of the ballooning yarn, means for yieldingly turning said hollow spindle-in the opposite direction, and means' controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the balloon.

14. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material advancing under tension through a zone, means for rotating the material in a bulging loop insuch zone, the loop having its ends spaced apart and lying generally on the axis of rotation of the loop, means adapted to be contacted by the strand in the loop as the loop rotates with respect thereto, said means being responsive to changes in engagement therewith by the strand in the loop, and means responsive to the strand-contacting means to change the size of the loop.

15. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material advancing under tension through a zone, means for rotating the material in a bulging loop in such zone, the loop having its ends spaced apart and lying generally on the axis of rotation of the loop, means adapted to be contacted by the strand in the loop as the loop rotates with respect thereto, said means being responsive to changes in engagement therewith by the strand in the loop, and means responsive to the strand-contacting means to change the tension of the material in the loop.

16. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material advancing under tension through a zone, means for rotating the material in a bulging loop in such zone, the loop having its ends spaced apart and lying generally on the axis of rotation of the loop, and means for detecting changes in the diameter of the loop, said last named means comprising means adapted to be contacted by the material in the loop as the loop rotates with respect thereto, said means contacted by the material being responsive to changes in engagement therewith by the material in the loop.

17. Th apparatus defined in claim 16, wherein the means adapted to be contacted by the material in the loop is a member having a material-contacting surface positioned along at least a portion of the path of a zone of the loop.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein the member is movable in opposite directions, and comprising means yieldably. opposing movement of the member by the loop.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein the material-contacting portion of the member is annular and surrounds a zone of the loop, and wherein the member is rotatable about its axis.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19 which comprises means yieldably opposing rotation of the member by the loop.

21. Apparatus for controlling the balloon of elongated flexible material at a twisting spindle having a balloon forming flyer, comprising a guiding eye for the free end of such balloon, means mounting such eye in alignment with the axis of the flyer, such last named means including means for adjusting the eye along such axis toward and away from the flyer, the eye being rotatable about the axis of the eye in the direction of rotation of the balloon, and means responsive to rotation of the eye for governing the eye adjusting means.

22. Apparatus for controlling the balloon of elongated flexible material at a twisting spindle having a balloon forming flyer, comprising a guiding eye for the free end of such balloon, means mounting such eye in alignment with the axis of the flyer, such last named means including means for adjusting the eye along such axis toward and away from the flyer, the eye being rotatable about the axis of the balloon, means constantly yieldably opposing turning of the eye in the direction of rotation of the balloon, and driving means connecting the eye to ,the eye adjusting means, the last named means being so constructed and arranged that when the eye rotates in the direction of rotation of the balloon the eye is moved toward theflyer and that when the eye rotates in a direca .14 a tion opposite to the direction of rotation of the balloon the eye is moved away from the flyer.

23. Apparatus for controlling the free-flying loop of elongated flexible material at a spindle havinga flyer creating and maintaining such loop, comprising a guiding eye for the free end of the loop, means mountingthe eye in alignment with the axis of the flyer, such last named means including means for adjusting the eye along the axis of the free-flying loop toward and away from the flyer, means mounting the eye for rotation about the axis of the loop, means drivingly connected to the eye and driven by contact with the free-flying loop for rotating the eye, means constantlyyieldingly opposing turning of the eye in the direction of rotation of the loop, and means responsive to rotation of the eye for governing the eye adjusting means.

24. Apparatus for controlling the free-flying loop of elongated flexible material at a spindle having a flyer creating and maintaining such loop, comprising a guiding eye for the free end of the loop, means mounting the eye in alignment with the axis of the flyer, such last named means including means for adjusting the eye along such axis toward and away from the flyer, and means mounting the eye for rotation about the axis of the freeflying loop, the eye having a constricted material guiding zone, means connected to the eye and presenting a surface of revolution below the constricted zone of the eye and coaxial of the flyer, such surface of revolution being contacted by the material in the free-flying loop when the loop reaches a predetermined diameter whereby to rotate the eye, means constantly yieldingly opposing turning of the eye in the direction of rotation of the loop,

and means responsive to rotation of the eye for governing the eye adjusting means. V

25. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying balloon of the material, means for rotating the flyer, balloon contacting means for detecting changes in the shape of the balloon, and means operative in response to the last named means to change the tension of the material in the balloon.

26. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying balloon of the material, means for rotating the flyer, means directly contacting the balloon at one of its ends for detecting changes in the shape of the balloon, and means operative in response to the last named means to change the tension of the material in the balloon.

27. Apparatus for handling elongated flexible material comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a free-flying balloon of the materia1, means for rotating the flyer, 'means directly contacting the balloon at the end thereof remote from the flyer for detecting changes in the shape of the balloon, and means operative in response to the last named means to change the tension of the material in the balloon.

28. Apparatus for twisting elongated flexible material .comprising a flyer for creating and maintaining a freeflying balloon of the material, means for rotating the flyer, a material guiding eye at the end of the balloon remote from the flyer, means mounting the eye for adjustment toward and away from the flyer, means directly contacting the balloon at the end thereof remote from the flyer for detecting changes in the shape of the balloon,

and means operative in response to the last named means to operate the means for adjusting the eye. 7 V V 29. Apparatus for controlling the balloon of an elongated material twisting spindle which creates and receives material from a balloon comprising a flyer, a first balloon apex guide positioned coaxial of and spaced from the flyer, a second guide for continuously guiding material as it travels therepast toward the balloon to enter the latter through the apex guide, means for continuously withdrawing material from the balloon and thence in through the flyer, and means for controlling the tension of the material in the balloon, the material in the run thereof from and including the zone of the second guide and the zone of withdrawing of the material being held under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained salient zone between such two zones, said last named means comprising means for detecting changes in the tension of the material in the balloon and including tension sensitive means contacting and diverting a portion of the said run of material extending between and including the zone of the second guide and the zone of withdrawing the material.

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the tension sensitive means includes a rotatable solid of revolution mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the axis of the flyer.

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the means for withdrawing material from the balloon includes a rotatable driven capstan about which at least one coil of the material extends and with the surface of which the material has material-forwarding frictional engagement.

32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein the tension sensitive means includes a rotatable solid of revolution mounted on an axis fixed with respect to the axis of the flyer, the material passing by the solid revolution and having frictional engagement therewith, whereby instantaneous variations in torque of engagement between the material and the solid of revolution yield an instantaneous indication of variations in tension in the material.

33. The method of controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle which creates and receives material from a balloon created by a driven rotatable flyer, which comprises continuously feeding material into the balloon, continuously Withdrawing material from the balloon and thence in through the flyer, holding the material in the run thereof from and including the zone of feeding of the material .into the balloon and the zone of Withdrawing of the material under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained salient zone between such two feeding zones, contacting the material at a location in the said run of material extending between and including the said two zones of feeding of the material with a tension sensitive means, and controlling the diameter of the balloon in accordance with variations in said detected force.

34. The method of controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle which creates and receives material from a balloon created by a driven rotatable flyer, which comprises continuously feeding material into the balloon, continuously withdrawing material from the balloon and thence in through the flyer, holding the material in the run thereof from and including the zone of feeding of the material into the balloon and the zone of withdrawing of the material under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained salient zone between such two feeding zones, maintaining the zones of feeding of the material into and out of the balloon at fixed distances from the flyer, contacting the material at a location in the said run of material extending between and including the said two zones of feeding of the material with a tension sensitive means, and controlling the diameter of the balloon in accordance with said detected force.

35. The method of controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle which creates and receives material from a balloon created by a driven rotatable flyer, which comprises continuously feeding material into the balloon, continuously withdrawing material from the balloon and thence in through the flyer, holding the material in the run thereof from and including the zone of feeding of the material into the balloon and the zone of withdrawing of the material under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained salient zone between such two feeding zones, maintaining the zones of feeding of the material into and out of the balloon at fixed distances from the flyer, contacting the material at a location in the said run of material with a rotatable body of revolution with the surface of which the material has frictional engagement as it travels therepast, and controlling the tension of the material in the balloon in accordance with variations in the frictional engagement between the body and the material.

36. The method as defined in claim 35, wherein the rotatable body of revolution is mounted on a fixed axis, and comprising diverting the material by said contact with the body of revolution, and holding the body of revolution from movement as a whole in the direction opposite the direction of diversion of the material.

37. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material having substantially constant properties longitudinally thereof, said spindle having balloon forming means including a flyer, means for rotating the flyer at constant speed, and means for controlling the balloon to maintain it of substantially constant diameter, said last named means comprising means contacted by the material for detecting changes in a force which is generated by and directly attendant upon the balloon and which changes to a substantial degree solely as a result of changes in balloon diameter, the changes in such force having a known predetermined relationship with the changes in the diameter of the balloon, and means operative in response to the last named means to vary the tension of the material in the balloon.

38. A spindle for twisting elongated flexible material, said spindle having a balloon forming means including a flyer, means for rotating the flyer at constant speed, and means for controlling the balloon to maintain it of substantially constant diameter, said last named means comprising means contacted by :the material for detecting changes in a force which is generated by and directly attendant upon the balloon and which changes to a substantial degree solely as a result of changes in balloon diameter, the changes in such force having a known predetermined relationship with the changes in the diameter of the balloon, and means operative in response to the last named means to vary the tension of the material in the balloon.

39. Apparatus for controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle which creates and receives material from a balloon comprising a flyer, means for continuously guiding material as it passes toward the balloon, means for continuously withdrawing material from the balloon and thence in through the flyer, the material in the run thereof from and including the zone at the means for guiding the material in advance of the balloon and the zone of the means for withdrawing the material from the balloon being held under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained salient zone between such two zones, and material contacting means for detecting changes in the diameter of the balloon and for varying the speeds of passage of the material int-o and out of the balloon relative to each other, whereby to maintain the balloon diameter within predetermined desired limits, said material contacting means being located between and including the said two zones of passage of the material.

40. Apparatus as set forth in claim 39, wherein the means for withdrawing material from the ballobn includes a rotatable driven capstan about which the material is coiled and with the surface of which the material has material-forwarding frictional engagement.

41. Apparatus as set forth in claim 40, wherein the mean-s for detecting changes in the diameter of the balloon comprises means responsive to a force generated by the balloon, said force having a predetermined relationship to the diameter of the balloon.

42. Apparatus for controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle which creates and receives material from a balloon comprising a flyer, means for continuously guiding material as it passes toward the balloon, means for continuously withdrawing material from the balloon and thence in through the flyer, one of said last two means passing the material at an essentially constant speed, and the other of said last two means passing the material at a variable speed, the material in the run thereof from and including the zone at the means for guiding the material in advance of the balloon and the zone of the means for withdrawing the material from the balloon being held under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained salient zone between such two zones, and material contacting means for detecting changes in the diameter of the balloon and for controlling the variable speed material-passing means whereby to maintain the balloon diameter within predetermined desired limits.

43. Apparatus as set forth in claim 42, wherein the means for withdrawing material from the balloon includes a rotatable driven capstan about which the material is coiled and with the surface of which the material has material-forwarding frictional engagement.

44. The method of controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle which oreates and receives material from a balloon created by a driven rotatable flyer, which comprises continuously passing material into the apex end of the ballon remote from the flyer, continuously withdrawing material from the balloon and thence in through the -flyer, the material travelling at essentially constant speed at one of the zones at which it is passed into and withdrawn from the balloon, holding the material in the run thereof from and including the zone of passage of the material into the ballon and the zone of withdrawing of the material from the balloon under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained zone between such two first named zones, contacting the material at a location in the said run of material extending between and including the said two first named zones with a tension sensitive means, and varying the relative speeds of travel of the material into and out of the balloon by the response of said tension sensitive means, whereby to maintain the tension of the material in the balloon within predetermined desired limits.

45. The method as set forth in claim 44, wherein the tension sensitive means is a rotatable body of revolution with the surface of which the material has frictional engagement as it travels therepast.

46. The method as set forth in claim 45 wherein the rotatable body of revolution is separate from, spaced from, and rotates at a speed different from, the fiyer.

47. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the rotatable body of revolution is mounted on a fixed axis, and comprising diverting the material by said con-tact with the body of revolution, and holding the body of revolution from movement as a whole in the direction opposite the direction of diversion of the material.

48. Apparatus for controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle of the infeeding type which creates and receives material from a balloon, comprising a iiyer, means for continuously guiding the material into the apex end of the balloon remote from the fiyer, driven take-up means for continuously taking-up material after it has passed through the balloon, the material passing at least one of the said guiding means and said take-up means at a variable rate, the material in the run thereof from and including the zone of the guiding means and the zone of the means taking up the material being held under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained salient zone in said run between such first two zones, and means for detecting changes in the tension of the material in the balloon and for varying the relative speeds of travel of the material into and out of the balloon whereby to maintain the tension of the material in the balloon within predetermined desired limits, said last named means including tension sensitive means contacting a portion of the said run of material from and including the apex end of the balloon to and including the zone of the take-up means.

49. The method of controlling the balloon of an elongated flexible material twisting spindle of the infeeding type which creates and receives material from a balloon created by a driven rota-table flyer, which comprises continuously passing material into the apex end of the balloon remote from the flyer, continuously taking-up material after it has passed through the balloon, the material travelling at variable speed at at least one of the zones at which it is passed into the balloon and at which it is taken up, holding the material in the run thereof from and including the zone of passage of the material into the balloon and the zone of taking-up of the material under tension with the balloon as the only resiliently maintained zone between such two first named zones, contacting the material at a location in the said run of material extending between and including the said two first named zones with a tension sensitive means, and varying the relative speeds of travel of the material into and out of the balloon by the response of said tension sensitive means, whereby to maintain the tension of the material in the balloon within predetermined desired limits.

50. The method as set forth in claim 49, wherein the tension sensitive means is a rotatable body of revolution with the surface of which the material has frictional engagement as it travels therepast.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,550,136 4/51 Clarkson 57-58.7X 2,654,211 10/53 Uhlig 57-58.55

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner. 

1. IN STRAND-TWISTING APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION, MECHANISM FOR ROTATING A YARN STRAND IN THE FORM OF A BALLOON AND FOR PULLING THE YARN FORWARD, A CENTRAL GUIDE AT THE APEX OF THE BALLOONING YARN, MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE SIZE OF THE BALLOON COMPRISING AN ANNULAR MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED NEAR SAID APEX IN CONCENTRIC RELATION THEREWITH AND ADAPTED TO BE TURNED IN ONE DIRECTION BY THE REVOLVING BALLOON, MEANS FOR YEILDABLY TURNING SAID MEMBER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER FOR CONTROLLING THE SIZE OF THE BALLOON. 